Show-cause notice to British national

Property purchased in Kovalam in 2007 taken into custody

District Collector P.M. Francis has issued a notice by “affixture” to a Pakistan-born British national asking him to show cause why the “transfer of registry” of a property he purchased at Kovalam in 2007 should not be cancelled.

The tahsildar, Neyyattinkara, served the notice to British passport holder Amjadulla Ansari, and temporarily took custody of the property in the foreigner's absence. The police and other security agencies are verifying reports in certain sections of the media that said Mr. Ansari had posed as an Indian to acquire the costly property - nearly 10 cents of land and a mansion overlooking the sea.

C. Abhilash, Circle Inspector, Nemom, said the police suspected that Mr. Ansari had acquired the property by posing as an Indian-born British citizen. At the time of transfer of registry, he had allegedly produced documents that showed him to be a native of Varanasi. The police suspect the documents to have been forged.

Passport details

He said the police was in possession of the details of Mr. Ansari's passport. They also had in possession a copy of the original document signed by Mr. Ansari that showed that he had renounced Pakistan's nationality for British citizenship.

The police are investigating him on the charges of violation of the provisions of the Foreigner's Registration Act. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating whether Mr. Ansari had violated any provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The police said Mr. Ansari often visited Kovalam during the tourist season and stayed alone at the house. He is reported to be resident of Warwickshire in the U.K. Various security agencies are verifying Mr. Ansari's antecedents.

Local people told intelligence officials that there was nothing apparently suspicious about Mr. Ansari's activities during his stay at the beachside resort.

The police are trying to get in touch with the previous owners of the property to find out how Mr. Ansari came to purchase the land and building. They are investigating the role of certain middlemen, including a lawyer, in connection with the controversial land deal.

The District Collector has ordered the Deputy Collector, Land Records, to find out if there was any “lapse, anomaly, haste, or lack of caution” on the part of the officials who assigned the land to Mr. Ansari.